Title: Kyō Bushō Iboku Makimono (Scrolls of Calligraphy Left by Famous Generals), Circa 1271-1390. A Collection of Seven Rare Letters by Various Warlords of the Kamakura and Muromachi Periods, With Participants of the Nanboku-chō and Genkō Wars
Author: Calligraphy by Prince Kaneyoshi; Kitabatake Akiie; Kusunoki Masanori; Shun'oku Myōha; Shijo Kingo or Yoriko; Kitabatake Akinobu; Chigusa Tadaaki; Appraisal Stamps by Okura Kosai
Condition: Very Good
A rather rare, Late Kamakura to Early Muromachi period series of manuscripts entitled Kyō Bushō Iboku Makimono, or Scrolls of Calligraphy Left by Famous Generals. As the title would entail, manuscripts are a collection of seven early collection of letters by various warlords of those periods, with several being key participants and figures of the Nanboku-chō and Genko Wars. Figures include Prince Kaneyoshi (1329-1383); Kitabatake Akiie (1318–1338); Kusunoki Masanori (1333–1390); Shun'oku Myōha (1311–1388); Shijo Yoriko, or Kingo (1230-1300); Kitabatake Akinobu (1320–1380); and Chigusa Tadaaki (?–1336).
Prince Kaneyoshi was the son of Emperor Go-Daigo, who was head of the Southern Court in opposition to the Ashikaga shogunate. During his youth, he saw the expansion of the shogunate’s power over Japan and grew to see the civil war between Ashikaga Takauji and his son, Tadafuyu. In 1336, Go-Daigo sent the young prince to Kyushu as a Chinzei Shogun, or Commander in Chief. However, by 1358, Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiakira saw little threat from the Southern Court forces, as they held little ground. But by 1365, Kaneyoshi had gained control of Kyushu and had grown confident of taking Kyoto. After Yoshiakira died however, loyalist resistance had dwindled, and control was consolidated under the Ashikaga Clan. Battle broke out between the Ashikaga forces and Kaneyoshi, but ultimately, the young prince lost, and fled to a plain, with little known afterward.
Kitabatake Akiie was a rather important supporter of the Southern Court during the Nanboku-chō Wars and was the son of Kitabatake Chikafusa. In 1333, he was appointed Chinjufu Shogun and worked with Nitta Yoshisada and a number of other families to oppose Ashikaga Takauji, though the Soma Clan and several other daimyo were eventually convinced to defect. In 1337, despite facing opposition forces in his home territory, Akiie was called away to protect Emperor Go-Daigo's retreat to Mount Hiei, fighting the Northern Court forces in numerous battles. He faces several defeats and further retreats, and was able to regather his forces at Tennoji, but was ultimately killed at Izumi in 1338.
Kusunoki Masanori was one of the many samurai who fought for the Southern Court during the
Nanboku-chō Wars and was rather famed as a skilled leader and strategist. He battled the Ashikaga forces in Kamakura, and other locations. After the deaths of his older brother Masayuki and others in battle, he played a central role in the Southern Court's military forces, based in Kawachi, as the head of the Kusunoki clan, and helped to lead loyalist forces in attempt to capture Kyoto in 1352. Though they did succeed, the Shogun escaped, and the loyalist forces were eventually driven out. After several years of constant fighting and being driven out of Kyoto three more times, Masanori abandoned ideas of conquest, and suggested a diplomatic approach, but his allies had grown hawkish for the war effort, which muddled negotiations and ultimately ended in failure at the time. Masanori was considered a traitor, but this did lead to eventual peace agreements (albeit a temporary peace), thanks to the efforts of Masanori and Hosokawa Yoriyuki, a shogunate official.
Haruya Myoha was a Zen priest of the Rinzai sect during the Muromachi period. He was ordained under Muso Soseki and was active as a central figure in the Muso sect, supporting Muso in his later years. He gained the patronage of the Muromachi shogunate and became the second abbot of the Rinzai sect's Shokoku-ji temple but was in fact the founder and national priest. He contributed to the development of Gozan culture through the publication of the Gozan edition and other publications and became the chief priest of Tenryu-ji temple and Rinsen-ji temple in his lifetime as well.
Shijo Yoriko was a samurai from the mid to late Kamakura period, and a powerful patron of the famed monk Nichiren. He served as a steward to Nagoe Tomotoki and his son Mitsutoki, both Hojo Clan members. Yoriko became a devoted follower of Nichiren's teachings from 1253 and attempted to commit suicide to follow Nichiren during the Tatsunokuchi Persecution in 1271. In his later years, he was given land in Kai no Kunifune, where he built Uchisen-ji Temple and Hamba-bo Temple on Mt. Minobu.
Kitabatake Akinobu a court noble, and a key supporter of the Southern Court during the Nanboku-chō Wars. The second son of Kitabatake Chikafusa, and younger brother of Kitabatake Akiie, he was appointed as the Left Major General of the Imperial Guard and called himself Kasuga no Shosho. In 1336, he raised an army in Ise Province, assisted Emperor Go-Daigo in his relocation, and was appointed as the governor of Ise Province. After his brother's death in 1338, he was appointed as the General of the Naval Base, and accompanied Go-Daigo's sons, Prince Yoshiyoshi and Prince Muneyoshi, to Mutsu Province with his father, Fusa, but was thwarted by a storm on the way and returned to Yoshino. Following this was a series of battles and attempted sieges, both offensive and defensive, from Taga Castle to Reizan Castle, Shizukuishi Castle and more. After the death of Ashikaga Takauji in 1358, the Southern Court became active nationwide, but Akinobu is thought to have been in Dewa at this time, as he submitted a written donation to Chokai-san Omonokimi Shrine in August of the same year, praying for the restoration of the Southern Court and peace in Dewa Province. Historic documents become rather muddles of what happened to him after this, but it is presumed he simply continued to carry out his duties until his eventual passing.
Chigusa Tadaaki was a noble and military commander from the end of the Kamakura period to the Northern and Southern Courts period. He became a trusted vassal of Emperor Go-Daigo, and was in opposition to his father Aritada, who was plotting for the early accession of the Crown Prince, Prince Kuniyoshi, to the throne. When the Genko Rebellion broke out in 1331, and Emperor Go-Daigo raised an army at Kasagiyama in August of the same year, Tadaaki followed him. But Kasagiyama fell, and Tadaaki was captured by the shogunate along with Go-Daigo and was detained by Sasaki Takauji. In the following year, Go-Daigo was exiled to Oki Island, and Tadaaki followed, but they were able to escape, and eventually raised an army at Funakamiyama, leading to a series of battles and the eventual capture of Kyoto. When the Kenmu Restoration began, he was appointed to the rank of Junior Third Rank and Councilor as well as provincial governor of three provinces, including Tanba and Sado Province. Tadaaki, alongside such figures such as Yuki Chikamitsu, Kusunoki Masashige, and Nawa Nagato wielded great influence during this period. When Ashikaga Takauji defected from the new government in 1335, Tadaaki pursued him together with Nitta Yoshisada and Kitabatake Akiie in January 1336 and drove the Ashikaga forces to Kyushu. However, by May, Go-Daigo was defeated in the Battle of Minatogawa and fled to Mount Hiei, with Tadaaki accompanying him, and on June 7th Tadaaki fought against Takauji's marching forces approaching Kyoto but was killed in battle with Ashikaga Tadayoshi at Kinzaka Hill.
The producer of the appraisal stamps is the Edo Period calligraphy expert Okura Kosai, who served the Kishu Tokugawa family and was awarded the rank of Hokkyo. He died in 1863 but not before having appraised a wide selection of calligraphy, paintings, and other hand produced manuscripts and artworks.
The calligraphic letters have been laid down and bound in a scroll for preservation, with a beautiful brocade decorated cover of green against golden flowers, and there are jikusaki (knobs). There is a wooden box to accompany it for preservation, and an early slipcase.
One handscroll with several letters of calligraphy, 33 x 278 cm full length. The knobs are not included as part of the measurement.
This handscroll is in very good shape, with minimal rubbing and wear to the covers, and some wear to the early title label. Two of the letters have old worm tracks, but the text is not too impacted. Two of the letters have some soiling and staining.